Bladder catheter

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a bladder catheter ( 10 ), comprising a tube ( 12 ), wherein the tube ( 12 ) has an insertion section ( 14 ) for inserting into a urinary bladder through a urethra and wherein the tube ( 12 ) has a connection section ( 18 ) for connecting connection elements, wherein fluid can be drained from the urethra at the connection section ( 18 ) via the insertion section ( 14 ), wherein a closable valve ( 22 ) is arranged between the insertion section ( 14 ) and the connection section ( 18 ) in such a way that the discharge of fluid from the connection section ( 18 ) can be prevented while the valve ( 22 ) is closed.

The invention relates to a urinary catheter with a tube, wherein the tube has an insertion section for insertion in a bladder via a urethra, and wherein the tube has a connecting section for the connection of connection elements thereto, wherein liquid from the urethra can be discharged at the connecting section via the insertion section.

A number of urinary catheters of this type are known from the prior art, and can no longer be dispensed with in the medical field. Urinary catheters of this type are used, for example in hospitals, with patients who can no longer leave their bed due to an operation or due to their age. These types of urinary catheters are also used with other disruptions pertaining to the voiding of the bladder. Different forms of these transurethral urinary catheters, meaning urinary catheters that are inserted in the bladder via the urethra, are known. Thus, there are, for example, intermittent catheters, which are removed from the urethra after a single voiding of the bladder. With indwelling catheters, which are normally designed as at least a two-way catheter, a balloon is disposed on the tip of the urinary catheter, wherein the urinary catheter exhibits one channel for urine discharge, and one channel for filling the balloon when the urinary catheter is inserted. The urinary catheter is then anchored in a long-term manner in the urethra.

Moreover, three-way catheters, the so-called flushing catheter, are also known from the prior art. In contrast to a two-way catheter, these urinary catheters exhibit an additional channel, through which flushing solutions can be introduced into the bladder. These three-way catheters are used, for example, if there is heavy bleeding in the bladder, in order to prevent blood clotting in the bladder by flushing the bladder.

These urinary catheters known from the prior art exhibit certain disadvantages however. The known urinary catheters must be equipped with a urine bag for collecting the urine discharged from the connecting section. When a urine bag of this type is replaced, meaning when the urine bag is full, the connecting section must be held in place above the height of the urethra, because otherwise, urine can leak from the connecting section. Particularly in a hospital environment, this represents an unacceptable risk to the patient and the hospital staff. Furthermore, when the urine bag is connected, urine can be discharged into the urine bag at the connecting section through the insertion section at any time. Patients wearing a urinary catheter over a longer period of time thus lose their natural bladder reflex. After removing the urinary catheter, this can lead to problems pertaining to a natural “passing water” by the patient.

The invention thus addresses the problem of providing a urinary catheter with which the comfort of a patient can be increased.

This objective is achieved with a urinary catheter having the features of Claim 1. Accordingly, it is provided that a closable valve is disposed between the insertion section and the connecting section, such that a discharge of liquid from the connecting section can be prevented when the valve is closed. This is advantageous because, then when the valve is closed, a full urine bag can be replaced, without urine being able to escape from the connecting section of the urinary catheter. It is thus not only more hygienic, but a urinary catheter of this type is also advantageous from an ecological perspective, because costs pertaining to hygienic measures in hospitals, for example, which until now have been necessary, can be eliminated by means of a urinary catheter of this type.

The use of urine bags can also be avoided with a urinary catheter of this type. It can then be ensured, with a urinary catheter of this type, that a patient does not lose his bladder reflex. Instead, this remains intact. The use of a urine bag is no longer necessary because a patient can visit a toilet when he detects the feeling of a full bladder, wherein the patient can then void his bladder in a toilet by opening the closable valve. Particularly from an ergonomic perspective, a urinary catheter of this type can increase the comfort level of a patient to an enormous extent. A patient need not walk around with a urine bag. Instead, he is able to use conventional, public, for example, toilets. The urinary catheter can be hidden in the underwear after the bladder has been voided, without wetting the clothing.

In the night, as is the case with urinary catheters known from the prior art, a urine bag can then be connected to the connecting section of the urinary catheter, for collecting urine.

Advantageously, a urinary catheter of this type, or the tube, respectively, can be manufactured from rubber and/or latex and/or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and/or silicone. Advantageously, the outer surface of the tube exhibits a hydrophilic coating, for increasing the sliding capacity into the urethra.

An advantageous design of the urinary catheter provides that the valve is a slide valve. With a slide valve of this type, a particularly secure sealing is enabled, which, at the same time, provides for a very simple operation thereof. A patient or medical staff can then simply and securely discharge urine from a bladder, or can then prevent the discharge of urine, respectively, by closing the slide valve.

Advantageously, the valve has two switching states, wherein the valve is closed in a closed setting, and wherein the valve is open in a releasing setting.

It is particularly advantageous if the valve has three switching states, wherein the valve is closed in a closed setting, and wherein the valve allows air to escape in a middle setting, and wherein the valve is open in a releasing setting. This is particularly advantageous because, in the closed middle setting, air is able to escape the bladder of a patient, wherein a discharge of urine can be prevented.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if an air-permeable filter and/or membrane section is provided in the valve. A filter and/or membrane section of this type can be disposed thereby, advantageously, such that it enables air to escape when the valve is moved to the middle setting, wherein a discharge of urine is can be prevented.

It is particularly preferred thereby, that the filter and/or membrane section be manufactured from a hydrophobic acrylate polymer.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if a membrane having flap-like wall segments, which rest tightly against one another in the closed state, is provided as the valve, such that the wall segments open up to form an opening when a connection element is inserted. When connection elements, such as a urine bag, or simply a discharge tube, are inserted, the flap-like wall segments move aside, and open up an opening in the membrane. When the connection element, or the discharge tube, respectively, is removed, these flaps can then close the opening. Therefore, a connection elements in the form of a tube can be provided, which can be inserted in the connecting section solely for urinating. The membrane can be manufactured thereby, advantageously, from the same material as the urinary catheter, or the tube, respectively.

Advantageously, the urinary catheter has a closed hollow tip with at least two opposing openings, in accordance with the Nelaton catheter design, at its end facing away from the connecting section. It is, however, also conceivable, that the urinary catheter is a Foley catheter. A Foley catheter exhibits a Nelaton tip, and has an additional balloon on its tip for securing the urinary catheter in the bladder. The design for this urinary catheter, as a Nelaton catheter, is advantageous, because the Nelaton catheter can be inserted particularly easily in a urethra of a patient.

It is particularly preferred thereby if the urinary catheter is a transurethral catheter. A transurethral urinary catheter can, in contrast to a suprapubic urinary catheter, be inserted in the bladder through the urethra of a patient.

Another advantageous design of the urinary catheter provides that the urinary catheter is an indwelling catheter. In this case, the urinary catheter can, in particular, be a two-way catheter, wherein urine can be discharged from the urethra through a central channel, while, on the other hand, a balloon, which can be provided on a tip of the urinary catheter, can be filled with water through a second channel. An indwelling catheter of this type can be disposed in a self-retaining manner in a urethra in a particularly advantageous manner.

Another advantageous design of the urinary catheter provides that the urinary catheter is a flushing catheter. A flushing catheter of this type can, in particular, be a three-way catheter, with which, in contrast to a two-way catheter, a flushing solution can be introduced into a bladder through an additional third channel. In order to prevent blood clotting in the bladder, a bladder can be flushed with flushing liquids using a flushing catheter.

Further details and advantageous designs of the invention can be derived from the following description, based on which the embodiments of the invention depicted in the figures are described and explained in greater detail. Shown are:

FIG. 1: a depiction of a urinary catheter according to the invention, in the overall depiction;

FIG. 2: an enlarged depiction of the tip of the urinary catheter according to FIG. 2[sic: FIG. 1];

FIG. 3: a depiction of the connecting section of the urinary catheter according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 a: a slide valve for the urinary catheter according to FIG. 1, in the closed setting;

FIG. 4 b: the slide valve according to FIG. 4 a, in the releasing setting;

FIG. 5 a: a second embodiment of a slide valve according to FIG. 1 in the closed setting;

FIG. 5 b: the slide valve according to FIG. 5 a, in a middle setting; and

FIG. 5 c: the slide valve according to FIG. 5 a in a releasing setting.

FIG. 1 shows a urinary catheter 10 with a tube 12. This tube 12 has an insertion section 14, with a tip 16 illustrated in FIG. 2. This insertion section 12 can be at least partially inserted in a bladder of a patient through a urethra. The tube 12 has a connecting section 18 on its end facing away from the insertion section 14, or the tip 16, respectively. Connection elements, not depicted in the figures, can be inserted in this connecting section 18, or in the opening 20 of the connecting section 18. The urinary catheter 10 has a valve 22 designed as a slide valve on its end facing the connecting section 18. This valve 22 is disposed between the insertion section 14 and the connecting section 18, such that a discharge of urine from the opening 20, or the connecting section 18, respectively, can be prevented when the valve 22 is closed.

The urinary catheter 10 is a so-called two-way catheter. The urinary catheter 10 thus has a connecting section 24 at its end facing the connecting section 18. A balloon, not visible in the figures, disposed at the tip 16, can be inflated with a liquid by means of this connecting section 24. Using this balloon, the urinary catheter 10 can be fixed in the bladder after it has been inserted in a bladder through a urethra. The urinary catheter 10 is thus retained in its position by means of the balloon. In order to fill the balloon, a secondary channel 30 is provided in the tube 12, separated from a main channel 28. If liquid can then enter the balloon at the connecting section 24 through the secondary channel 30, the balloon inflates and holds the urinary catheter 10 in position. The main channel 28, in turn, serves as a connection for the tip 16 of the urinary catheter 10 to the connecting section 18.

Urine can be discharged at the tip 16 depicted in FIG. 2, when a urinary catheter 10 is inserted in a bladder, through two opposing eye-like openings 32, through the main channel 28 running in the insertion section 14, into a connection element connected at the connecting section 18, or directly into a toilet, respectively.

The tip 16 depicted in FIG. 2 represents a tip 16 of a urinary catheter according to the so-called Nelaton catheter design. For an easier insertion of the urinary catheter 10, or the insertion section 14, respectively, in a urethra of a patient, the tip 16 thus has a spherical cone 34. This spherical cone 34 serves to facilitate an easy insertion of the urinary catheter 10, wherein this should be designed such that it is as comfortable for the patient as possible.

FIG. 3 shows a detail view of the connecting section 18 of the urinary catheter 10. Connection elements, not shown in the figures, such as a urine bag, for example, can be connected to the connecting section 18 through the opening 20. The connecting section 24, which is connected to the secondary channel 30, for filling the balloon, not shown in FIG. 3, is clearly visible in FIG. 3. Furthermore, the valve 22, which is designed as a slide valve, is depicted in FIG. 3 in the closed setting. The functioning of the valve 22 shall be described and explained in greater detail based on FIGS. 4 a and 4 b.

The valve 22 is depicted in FIG. 4 a in its closed setting, analogous to FIG. 3. The discharge direction of the urine through the main channel 28 is indicated by an arrow 36. An actuating element 40 for the valve 22, designed as a piston, is disposed in a receiving section 38, running transverse to the main channel, having a cylindrical design and intersected by the main channel 28. A closing section 42 of the actuating element 40 is located in the main channel 28, in the closed setting depicted in FIG. 4 a, such that liquid can no longer be discharged through the main channel 28.

When pressure is applied to the lower end 44 of the actuating element 40, it is moved into the releasing setting depicted in FIG. 4 b. When in this releasing setting, liquid, or urine, respectively, can flow through the main channel 28 in the direction of the arrow 36. The closing section 42 is moved thereby such that it no longer overlaps the main channel 28, in contrast to FIG. 4 a. A releasing section 46 then overlaps the main channel 28. This releasing section 46 has a clearly smaller outer diameter than the receiving section 38. As a result, liquid can flow past the releasing section 46, through the main channel 28.

When a urine bag, not shown, is being replaced, or after the bladder has been voided, respectively, the valve 22 for the urinary catheter can again be closed. For this, pressure must be exerted on the upper end 48 of the actuating element 40. The actuating element 40 is again moved into the closed setting in the receiving section 38. As a result, urine can no longer be discharged from the urinary catheter 10, or through the opening 20 at the connecting section 18, respectively.

Another embodiment of a valve 22 for a urinary catheter 10 is shown in FIGS. 5 a to 5 c. The components and elements corresponding thereto in FIGS. 4 a and 4 a[sic: 4 b] are indicated with corresponding reference symbols. The valve according to FIGS. 5 a to 5 c has three switching settings, wherein the valve 22 in FIG. 5 a is depicted in a closed setting, analogous to the closed setting depicted FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 a. The discharge direction for the urine through the main channel 28 is likewise indicated by an arrow 36. An actuating element 40 for the valve 22, designed as a piston, is disposed in a receiving section 38, running transverse to the main channel 28, which is designed as a cylinder, and intersected by the main channel 28.

In the closed setting depicted in FIG. 5 a, a closing section 42 of the actuating element is located in the main channel 28 such that liquid can no longer be discharged through the main channel 28. An air-permeable filter and/or membrane section 50 is disposed beneath the closing section 42. This filter and/or membrane section 50 is preferably manufactured from a hydrophobic acrylate polymer, and cannot be permeated by liquids.

When pressure is applied to the lower end 44 of the actuating element 40, it is first moved to the middle setting depicted in FIG. 5 b. The filter and/or membrane section 43 overlaps the main channel 28 when in the middle setting, such that air can be discharged through the main channel 28, but, due to the non-liquid-permeable filter and/or membrane section 50, a discharge of liquid can be prevented. As a result, air can be removed from a bladder of a patient in the middle setting.

If pressure is then applied to the lower end 44 of the actuating element 40, it is moved to the open setting depicted in FIG. 5 c. Liquid, or urine, respectively, can flow in the direction of the arrow 36 through the main channel 28 when in this releasing setting. The closing section 42 is moved thereby, from the overlapping with the main channel 38, analogously to FIG. 4 b. The releasing section 46 then overlaps the main channel 28. This releasing section 46 has a significantly smaller outer diameter than the receiving section 38. As a result, liquid can flow past the releasing section 46, through the main channel 28. A replacement of a urine bag can likewise occur, analogously to the valve 22 according to FIG. 4 a and FIG. 4 b, after moving the valve into the closed setting. For this, pressure must be applied to the upper end 48 of the actuating element 40, and the actuating element 40 is again moved in the receiving section 38, into the closed setting. As a result, with a valve 22 according to FIGS. 5 a to 5 c as well, urine can no longer be discharged from the urinary catheter 10, or through the opening 20 at the connecting section 18, respectively. 

1. A urinary catheter (10) with a tube (12), wherein the tube (12) has an insertion section (14) for insertion in a bladder via a urethra, and wherein the tube (12) has a connecting section (18) for the connection of connection elements thereto, wherein liquid can be discharged from the urethra at the connecting section (18), characterized in that a closable valve (22) is disposed between the insertion section (14) and the connecting section (18) such that a discharge of liquid from the connecting section (18) can be prevented when the valve (22) is closed.
 2. The urinary catheter (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve (22) is a slide valve.
 3. The urinary catheter (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the valve (22) has two switching settings, wherein the valve (22) is closed in a closed setting and wherein the valve (22) is open in a releasing setting.
 4. The urinary catheter (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the valve (22) has three switching settings, wherein the valve (22) is closed in a closed setting and wherein the valve (22) is air-permeable in a middle setting and wherein the valve (22) is open in a releasing setting.
 5. The urinary catheter (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that an air-permeable filter and/or membrane section (50) is provided in the valve (22).
 6. The urinary catheter (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the filter and/or membrane section (50) is manufactured from a hydrophobic acrylate polymer.
 7. The urinary catheter (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, as a valve (22), a membrane is provided with flap-like wall segments that lie in a sealed manner against one another in the closed state, such that the wall segments open to form an opening (20) when a connection element is inserted.
 8. The urinary catheter (10) according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the urinary catheter (10) has a closed hollow tip (16) with at least two opposing openings (32) in accordance with a Nelaton catheter design on its end facing away from the connecting section (18).
 9. The urinary catheter (10) according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the urinary catheter (10) is a transurethral urinary catheter (10).
 10. The urinary catheter (10) according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the urinary catheter (10) is an indwelling catheter.
 11. The urinary catheter (10) according to one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the urinary catheter (10) is a flushing catheter. 